Oh cream cheese. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
It seems like I’ve only just discovered cream cheese. I’m putting it in truffles, brownies, cookie dough cheesecake bars, actual cheesecake… And now for the great finale: in this bread.
I’ve been dreaming about the banana and pecan combination that I used when I made the chocolate chip banana pecan pancakes a week or so back. But I thought..what’s missing? What will make that combination creamier, dreamier, and all around more delicious(..ier).
Now the solution to that question now, and ever after will be cream cheese. Always cream cheese.
Now I know that I really shouldn’t. It’s almost summer, and yet I still keep making comfort food. But I used some whole wheat flour, so that should count for something, am I right?
This Cream Cheese Banana Pecan Bread is so good, I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and still not get tired of it. I hate comparing usually, but I think it’s safe to say that this is definitely the best banana bread recipe I have ever tried.
What do you need to make this Cream Cheese Banana Pecan Bread?
- salted butter
- cream cheese
- white sugar
- eggs
- flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- cinnamon
- bananas
- pecans
- vanilla
Cream Cheese Banana Pecan Bread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamin
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Lightly spray 2 loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until creamy. Slowly mix in the sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, beating until fully blended.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until fully combined.
- Slowly mix in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just blended. Stir in the banana, pecans and vanilla.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes then remove and let cool on wire racks.
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I love cream cheese! Never had it in bread, though – an oversight I need to remedy, and fast! Great looking recipe – thanks.
I love cream cheese, too, and can imagine this banana bread tasting heavenly because of it! Great recipe!
Ooh, I bet the cream cheese made this bread really tasty!
I was definitely thinking about how amazing cream cheese is when I was using it in our sauce for dinner tonight!
Looks like a great combination. Pecan and cream cheese certainly goes well. Love the use of wholemeal flour too.
looks like a fabulous bread for breakfast! The combo is just amazing!
oh wow… lovely mix of flavors…
I love cream cheese to and this bread sounds yummy!
I want to try this best banana bread!
Cathleen , what a TERRIFIC and srcumptious combination ! Cream cheese and banana ? Swoon lol Some whole wheat sounds perfect to "offset " ha ! some of that wonderfully unhealthy cream cheese 😀
What an excellent combination. I can't wait to make this!
Cream cheese ups the tasty factor of any dessert 😀
This looks great!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Anything bread with cream cheese in it is a winner and this looks so good.
That is a lovely cake! I love the simple cakes like this with tons of flavour!
hi Cathleen, thanks for droping by my space n leaving ur comments. the bread luks delsih,never have tried bread with chese. nice recipe
I agree that cream cheese is DEFINITELY the perfect addition to this bread! Yum!
Hi Cathleen,
I have not try baking banana bread with cream cheese. Would love to try this recipe.
Zoe
This is the most delicious sounding bread! I feel like I need to start using more cream cheese in my baking!
What an amazing combination-soft cream cheese, bananas and crunchy pecans.
Sounds like heaven, thanks for sharing!
Cream cheese makes everything better for sure! This looks delicious.
I’ve made tons of banana bread in my life but I am drooling like crazy for this recipe! It looks so soft and airy and like it’s gonna melt in your mouth! I cannot wait to make it.
Yay! Let me know how it goes 🙂
OH I bet the cream cheese makes for a flavorful and tender banana bread! Can’t wait to try!
It’s so good in it!
I have baked with sour cream before but not cream cheese. It must add a great creamy flavor to a bread – and I love anything with pecans.
It’s such a good combo 🙂
Yum yum! I might just have to hide the rest! Thanks for another delicious recipe.
Yay! So glad you liked it!
Huge fan of both cream cheese and banana bread! Combining the two was the best idea ever! I love that added flavour it gives – definitely an improvement on a classic.
Yay! So glad you liked it! 🙂
I have banana bread in the kitchen all the time, it’s what my family and I have for breakfast every morning. I use the same recipe all the time but then when I saw your recipe I knew I had to try it! The texture of your banana bread is so light and tender, it’s very different from traditional banana bread. Perfect for breakfast, but I’d also be very happy to slather a fluffy frosting over this delightful cake and serve it for dessert!
That makes me so happy to hear!!
One can never go wrong with banana bread! I love cream cheese banana bread, but I have never added pecans to the mix. Will definitely have to give this a try!
You do! It’s so good 😉
What is it about cream cheese that ALWAYS makes a recipe better? Haha! It’s the best ingredient to add to almost any recipe!
Hahah, definitely agree!!
Who would have thought cream cheese, right, but what a texture and flavor it gives especially with bananas and pecans. I even saw on a show they used cream cheese to a something stick to the plate so it would not slip off. Wonderful recipe and great use for cream cheese!
Well done!
So glad you liked it!